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night happenings

Deuteronomy 23:9-11 (JDV)

Deuteronomy 23:9 “When you are encamped against your enemies, be careful to avoid anything offensive.
Deuteronomy 23:10 If there is a man among you who is not pure because of a bodily emission during the night, he must go outside the camp; he may not come anywhere inside the camp.
Deuteronomy 23:11 When evening approaches, he is to wash with water, and when the sun sets he may come inside the camp.

night happenings

The Hebrews called it euphemistically a “night happening.” If any kind of bodily emission occurred during the night, it rendered a person ritually impure, and he had to be excluded from the camp the next day. This rule was to protect the warriors from defilement. To fight with honor, they needed pure hearts and undefiled consciences.

While this rule has to do with ritual defilement, not sin, the whole concept of defilement is a lesson about a person’s moral life and its effect on others.

As a soldier, I remember feeling conflicted within when my leaders encouraged vulgar talk and immoral behavior. It made me wonder whether I was really on the right side. If you are going to be a warrior, you need to walk with integrity.

Lord, I pray for the soldiers who protect our nations. Give them pure hearts and undefiled consciences.